If this is your first visit, be sure to
check out the FAQ by clicking the
link above. You may have to register
before you can post: click the register link above to proceed. To start viewing messages,
select the forum that you want to visit from the selection below.

This year I'm doing a comparasion between the NWC's from Strachan and Russians from Kelley.

In April, I'll have 4 russian colonies and 4 NWC's all queens are production queens. My base to compare with will be 2 Italian hives one from York Stock and one from a local producer in TN. (both have been treated for Trachael Mites and Varroa)

When are you picking up your Russians from Kelly's? I'm picking mine up on 12 April. I considered ordering NWC queen this year and decided to go with the Russian since I would be picking her up myself.

Please post your observations. If you have the time I'd like to check out how the NWC colonies fare. I live an hour to the north in Bowling Green. - Martin

Cpeka,
Am I to understand that you will have these hives with no attention to mites; standard Apistan tx; FGMO tx; Menthol tx in the fall, spring. It seems that a test of the bees, to be fair, should 1. have all the colonies at the same strength to start. 2. Give no tx for mites or give all the same tx. (I thought I had more to add but thats all I can think of.)

i tried an experimebnt,buying several"resistant" varieties from major and smaller breeders,and had varied success,but i also found that if i bought 5 queens from one breeder,the 5 were not all equal in quality, and a few were occasionally duds or superb.then there's numerous variables from hive to hive,i think a larger number is needed to determine if a particular line of bees is better.